Cylinder deactivation??! Maybe some of you diesel techno-wizs can answer my question. Could a diesel engine be set up (at least in theory) to work on a cylinder deactivation system such as used on some gasoline engines in the Cadillac and I think the new Chevy pickups?
In my '05 with automatic OD trans, it just seems like on the flat and level at 70 mph the truck could handle another gear or fewer cylinders working. That Cummins has so much torque just a - sittin' there hummin' it seems a shame to waste it all and any increase in mileage wouldn't hurt either.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/m_520807/tm.htm

the new 6.7 Cummins will be utilizing a similar system